Welcome to Professor Kang’s Asian American Jurisprudence course, Law M315.
Description
Legal, social, and political discourse on race relations has traditionally been framed in Black-White terms. This course disrupts the traditional view by taking Asian Americans seriously. Since the 19th century, American law has shaped the demographics, experiences, and possibilities of Asian Americans. This profound impact will be examined through judicial opinions, legal commentary, social science, and historical readings on topics such as immigration and naturalization, de jure discrimination, and the World War II internment of Japanese Americans. This course will also explore the converse phenomenon of how Asian Americans have helped shape American law, through constitutional litigation and recent scholarship. Particular attention will be paid to critical race theory (CRT), the Asian American variation on CRT, and the vocal detractors of both movements. Finally, this course will address certain timely issues, which could range from racial violence, media stereotypes, affirmative action, to post 9-11 civil liberties issues. Although this course focuses on the Asian American experience, it is not meant for Asian Americans alone. It may be profitably taken by anyone who cares about race relations and who is intellectually drawn to an unconventional inquiry. In particular, there will be heavy emphasis on social cognitive accounts of bias. Class is taught Socratically, so students should be expected to be called on daily. (Grades will be based on class participation and an in-class, open book examination.)
Spring 2014 Schedule
- Class times
- August 26, 2014 – Nov. 25, 2014
- Tuesdays, Thursdays, 12:10 PM – 1:35 PM
- Cancelled class: Tuesday, Sept. 23 (to be rescheduled)
- Classroom: 2448 Law Building
- Review Session (updated October 10, 2014): Wednesday, Dec. 3, 8:45 AM – 10 AM, Room TBA
- Final Exam: Tuesday, Dec. 9, Time and Room TBA
Please review also class Logistics.